One Piece Comfortember:

Rescue

One Piece © Oda

Story and OCs © Me

"Urrgh...damn...that guy was tougher to go down than I thought he would be," Zoro cursed as he stood amongst the flaming battlefield, blood dripping from his right temple. "Hey...Luffy. You all right? Say something."

All he got in response was a groan from the raven-haired boy who was slumped against the swordsman, who grunted as he held his captain to his side...feeling something warm oozing into his left palm. As Zoro looked down, he saw the bloody gash that was left on Luffy's left hip, the red spot in his cardigan growing darker as more blood seeped through. The swordsman seethed, hating himself for letting this happen.

If he had just been faster...if that bastard hadn't used that Devil Fruit of his, he would've been able to get to his captain fast enough.

To think, this all started as another crazy adventure for the crew...but of course, they all ended up separated. At least Luffy managed to finish the jackass off with one Red Hawk before he went down. Still...this shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Now, here they both were: surrounded by flames and no help in sight.

Nonetheless, Zoro pressed on. He and Luffy walked through the flaming battlefield, sweat dripping from the swordman's body from the fierce heat...but he wasn't going to let his captain die here. He didn't let it happen two years ago...and he sure as hell wasn't going to let it happen now.

"ZOOOOOOROOOOO! LUUUUFFYYYY!"

"Huh?" Zoro muttered as he turned...and though he tried not to show it, he couldn't have been more relieved at the sight he saw, right then and there. Through the flames and red-orange sky, through the plumes of black smoke, running through the charred earth, there was Blizzard, panting as he ran as fast as he could with Sanji and Chopper riding on the wolf-dog's back...and by the looks of the amount of bandages on the three Straw Hat members, it seemed that they had been through the wringer as well. Blizzard had a patch over his left temple and bandages wrapped around his neck and on his right hind leg, while Sanji had bandages wrapped around his torso and his forehead. Chopper, meanwhile, had a patch over his right cheek and even one wrapped around his left antler, as well as bandages on his right arm.

If they looked this bad...were the others okay?

"There they are!" Chopper cried as he pointed his hoof straight ahead.

"Hey, Moss-head!" Sanji called. "Is Luffy all right?!"

"He's bleeding out!" Zoro shouted. "Hurry and get over here!"

As the three drew nearer...Luffy suddenly gasped as he glanced back, his eyes briefly flashing red.

"Z...Zoro...!" he rasped, causing the swordsman to turn around...only to immediately catch a glimpse of a glint of steel. He only had just a split second before drawing Wado Ichimonji and soon, sparks flew as blades clashed.

A mad cackle rent through the air as Zoro glared at a towering figure, holding a sword with a jagged edge. He could see the massive burn on his stomach where Luffy had punched him with his Red Hawk...and somehow, the bastard was still up and moving?

He'd be impressed if they weren't fighting for their lives, right now.

"I'm not letting my prey get away so easily!" the maniac declared. "Straw Hat's head is MINE!"

"Zoro!" Chopper cried.

"Quick, get Luffy out of here!" Zoro urged without even looking back. "Hurry and go!"

"But what about you?!" Chopper asked.

"You heard Moss-head, Chopper!" Sanji shouted as he pulled the unconscious Luffy from Zoro, then threw him on Blizzard's back. "Let's move!"

"He's right, Chopper!" Blizzard shouted. "We gotta get Luffy to the ship! Don't worry about Zoro! He can catch up!"

As reluctant as he was to leave his friend and one of his biggest role models behind, the little reindeer conceded, and soon, they took off running...leaving Zoro behind to finish their aggressor, alone.

"Pirate Hunter Zoro..." said the madman. "You're sure to be a challenge." He then licked his lips, anticipating the battle.

"Don't count on it," Zoro hissed...and soon, the swordsman charged, eye glowing dangerously red...and for a moment, the maniac stopped in his tracks.

The last thing he saw was not a man...but a demon.

XXX

Chopper sighed as he finished wrapping up Luffy's wounds, then attached a couple of blood bags to his wrist.

"How is he, Chopper?" Nami asked while holding a sleeping Aika in her lap.

"He's stable," Chopper answered. "If Zoro hadn't told us to get him out of there, he wouldn't have made it."

"Hear that, Moss-head?" Sanji asked as he glanced over at Zoro, who was sitting against the wall, sword in his arm, and bandages wrapped around his forehead, right bicep, and his chest. "Our captain is gonna live...thanks to you."

"...Hmph," Zoro smirked. "As it should be..."

On the bed, Luffy quietly breathed as he slept...a small smile forming on his lips.

Something I'm doing for Comfortember on Tumblr.

Review, please!